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Agenda Item 22c July 24-25, 2000 Board Meeting Page 2 of 4 . developing the AOP is to first develop operating plans for Flaming Gorge\Fontenelle, Aspinall\Taylor Park, and Navajo independently, Theseoperations are then combined with the latest runoffforecast and the latest estimates oflower basin water use, Through an iterative process a preferred operating plan for Colorado River Reservoirs is developed, The AO? is adjusted on monthly basis via the 24-month study process, Aspinall operations are developed and coordinated through a series of three meetings throughout the year. Meetings are held in January, April and August of each year, During these meetings hydrologic and storage conditions as well as the needs and desires of the various water users are discussed, Considerations include the exchange of water between Taylor Park Reservoir and Blue Mesa Reservoir to benefit flows in Taylor and Upper Gunnison Rivers under a 1975 exchange agreement, projected inflows, flood control, water rights and uses, instream flows for endangered fish and other resources, recreation, hydropower and other factors, Attached hereto is a letter that the Board endorsed listing the operating priorities that staff strives to achieve when it attends Aspinall Operation meetings. However, Aspinall operations may change somewhat in the near future as we begin to incorporate some of the following considerations, 60,000 AF Subordination of Aspinall Unit Water Rights . When the Aspinall Unit was constructed, it was also envisioned that several smaller reservoir projects would be constructed upstream for the benefit of water users in the Upper Gunnison Basin, Aspinall Unit water rights were to be subordinated to allow for these projects to be developed, 40,000 AF of depletion was to be utilized above Blue Mesa, 10,000 AF of depletion between Morrow Point and Blue Mesa, and 10,000 AF of depletion between Crystal and Morrow Point. However, these projects have not been built, but the Upper Gunnison water users would still like to realize the benefits of this subordination, Thus, the subordination agreement that is being signed today during a separate ceremony will allow Upper Gunnison water users to fully realize this long standing commitment. By subordinating the Aspinall Unit water rights to such water uses, the United States is agreeing that junior water users may continue to divert when a call is placed on the Gunnison River by the United States under the Aspinall rights, This 60,000 AF subordination has generally been considered a part of the 300,000 AF of marketable yield available to Colorado water users out of the Aspinall Unit. The Colorado Water Conservation District and the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District are responsible for reporting the uses under this subordination agreement and the Colorado River Decision Support System has a key role in this accounting process, Flow Recommendations to Benefit Endangered Fish in the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers . On January 27, 2000 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife released draft flow recommendations for the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers below the Gunnison River confluence. Staff reviewed the recommendations and provided initial comments back to the Service on May 2, 2000,